Why we will fail unless ...

I love TED talks.

This is a great TED talk about why we will fail.

Do you think about failure? About what keeps you from the things you most desire?  From what stops you being the person you most desire to be?

The TED talk speaks about why you will fail to have a great career, but the content could be applied to any area of life and passion.  There is some controversial material in there ... but I think helpful to get us thinking.

This week, in the midst of a busy week, I've been committed to ensuring I face some things I've procrastinated about and I've faced some other difficult conversations too.  It was worth it.

We will fail unless ....

Culture Shock

I've lived in Perth for over a year now.  I love it - it's a great place to be.

Over the last few weeks though I've become aware of some things that have shocked me about Perth.  On reflection about what I know about culture shock and transitions, I shouldn't be surprised.  I'm in the zone where I think I know the place and the culture and then all of a sudden something jumps out and surprises me, disorientates me and makes me aware of not being as understanding of the culture of the place I'm in as I thought.  Typical of transitions, yet disorientating at the same time.

Will we be ourselves?

One of the great books I'm reading at the moment is Wikichurch by Steve Murrell.  Some comments that he makes in there, combined with reading this blog post today, have me pondering how often we try and lead or live like someone else rather than being the person that God has called us to be and leading in ways that are true to how we are wired and also to what is needed in our context in this season.

I wonder what it means for you to be deeply true to who God is calling you to be and what is needed in the context that you find yourself in this season of life?

Joining Jesus on the cross

As I continue to sit in the midst of the story of these few days, I was encouraged by another blog post which gives another perspective on the cross.

Again simple but profound.

He quotes Dallas Willard: Jesus didn’t go to the cross so we wouldn’t have to. He went to the cross so we could join him there.
And then briefly explores that.


Where am I being invited to die ... so that new life might come?
Where are you being invited to die ... so that new life might come?
Where are we as a church, as a society being invited to die ... so that new life might come?

Another perspective

A friend's Facebook status expresses some of my sentiment from my last post.  Thanks Beth Barnett for words that speak my own heart.

"All you logicians and explainers, 
apologists and rationalists
keep your silence, this one day
algorhythmicists, hold your genius aside

Dare you explain the logic of the death of God?
Dare you rationalize the holy broken?
Dare you set a price on the head of Christ?
Dare you analogize the rawest disgrace, the hideous pitiful suffering -
with a scale, a law, a code, a currency, a formula?
Dare you construct a frame in which all this terror, abuse, betrayal, evil, malevolent injustice, pain and death make sense?

Shut up – just this once – please.

Let us gape at the senselessness

How else but that we see the senselessness of suffering
the senselessness of sin,
will we ever stop our rationalizing of our own corruption?
how else will we ever have our heart of sense restored?
Or even know our needfulness of it…"

Why did Jesus die?

It's Good Friday.  I wonder what your reflections are today?

And I wonder how you would answer a 3 year old wondering about the meaning of today, asking "Why did Jesus die?"

As I read Steve's post about his response to this question, I felt relieved.  Relieved to read a simple yet not simplistic response to this question; relieved to have a simple yet broad understanding explored in the midst of understandings of this day being so narrow in so many circles.

I find myself ever more thankful for the implications of Jesus' death (and life and resurrection), yet more sure that no one understanding of this amazing action goes anywhere close to doing it justice.  And more and more frustrated by presentations and understandings that only represent and form people in one perspective of the many theological understandings that are around.

Today, I'm trying to put this annoyance aside in order to stand in gratitude - for the things I understand and the things beyond my understanding.  I have no doubt of the importance and impact of this act.

It silences me, it grieves me, it releases me, it frees me, it begs me on, it calls me to follow in laying down my life.
And the implications are not just for me (or any individual) - it has implications for the whole cosmos.

Death that is about life.
A death that re-orientates.
A death by a person who takes so much on and into himself.
A death that is about so much more ...

A person whose action of love is oh so complete.

Thanks that is lost for words.

Book: Singled Out

There are not many books written about the issue of singleness - and many of the ones that are around are cringeworthy!  Having read about this book over year ago through a review that Tamie did on her blog, I've been keen to have a read.

Singled Out: Why Celibacy Must Be Reinvented in Today's Church is a book worth reading.  The authors (two single women) are mature and honest in the way they approach the topic and look at both Christian culture and general society's view of celibacy.  They do a good job of critiquing myths around the issue and in building some alternative frameworks.  Definitely a good read for both single and married people, as it's as much a book for the whole church as for single people.  However, I reckon single people in their thirties and older would particularly find it a refreshing read.

Have a look at Tamie's post for a more thorough review.